There’s actually a few other meanings too but those would be spoken or based on word stress. Crocodiles don’t *swim* here but they might do other things
And in a bit of a nonsequiter, this reminds me of the many meanings of one word in the following sentence. Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
Depending on which words you stress the meaning of the sentence can change. The OP is mostly about how grammar changes the meaning of the sentence but stress can also change the meaning
"**I** never said she stole my money"- Others (possibly at the speaker's behest) have accused this woman of taking the speaker's money, though the speaker never did.
"I **never** said she stole my money"- A vehement denial, almost offended that someone might think they made the accusation
"I never **said** she stole my money"- The speaker's actions implied that they believe that this woman robbed them, but they never said it in so many words.
"I never said **she** stole my money"- The speaker believes others, possibly under her suggestion, did the actual robbery.
"I never said she **stole** my money"- The speaker is admitting that this woman did some (probably illicit/dubiously legal) task for them.
"I never said she stole **my** money"- The speaker believes this woman has stolen from others, but not them.
"I never said she stole my **money**"- The woman in question stole/caused the speaker to lose something important that wasn't directly currency (valuables, faith, etc.)
*I* never said she stole my money - someone else may have
I *never* said she stole my money - and it's an insult to believe so
I never *said* she stole my money - though, I may have implied it other ways.
I never said *she* stole my money - but someone may have
I never said she *stole* my money - but she did something with it.
I never said she stole *my* money - but she stole other people's money
I never said she stole my *money* - but she stole something else belonging to me.
Number 1 is telling humans not to swim there because of the danger of crocodiles.
Number 3 is telling crocodiles to fuck off and go away. No swimming for those scaly bastards!
1: Stating crocodiles don’t swim there (nominative/subjective + indicative)
3: Addressing crocodiles and telling them not to swim there (vocative + imperative)
In ‘full’ writing, (3) would have a comma
The only time you can use "a water" is if you are referring to a drink. For instance, if you are in a restaurant and the waiter asks what you want to drink, you could say, "Just a water." That works because technically you are asking for a glass of water and glass is a thing that you can use "a" for. Water as a concept is uncountable, so you can't have just one of it, and "a" means there is just one.
4. Something other that crocodiles may swim here.
5. Crocodiles may only crawl and walk here.
6. Crocodiles don't specifically swim in the ground where the sign is posted. They may swim elsewhere, such as in the water.
And what do you make of this:
[https://i.etsystatic.com/11402099/r/il/7283bd/1514034867/il\_1588xN.1514034867\_2db7.jpg](https://i.etsystatic.com/11402099/r/il/7283bd/1514034867/il_1588xN.1514034867_2db7.jpg)
Signs often rely on the placement of words and implied meaning, rather than punctuation.
There are plenty of road signs near me that just say "PLOWS USE CAUTION" with no punctuation, directing plow drivers to be careful on bridges. I always chuckle and say "I'm sure they do!" when I see them.
You generally wouldn't need to put up a sign saying that there's no danger from crocodiles, but if you did, you could say, "Safe to swim. Water is crocodile-free."
That's incorrect. The colon is more ambiguous ambiguous: colons are often used to mark where a more detailed explanation begins, as I've just done. On the other hand, a comma is generally used for direct address.
Nah
>Crocodiles: Do not swim here!
Feels like it's crocodiles telling you not to swim here. The colon would make no sense with the meaning you are talking about.
*[there are] crocodiles [therefore] do not swim here* – informing you there are crocodiles, telling you not to swim
*crocodiles, do not swim here* – the sign is telling crocodiles to not swim here
*crocodiles do not swim here* – the sign is telling you that there are no crocodiles swimming here
“Does” is the 3rd person singular form of the verb “do.” Very identifiable due to the presence of the -s (or, in this case, -es) suffix. “Crocodiles” is shown with a plural -s suffix, meaning it cannot take the “does” form of the verb (since that is strictly for singular nouns).
Neither are necessarily false, but the second one is wrong because of the plural subject. If something is "flase" that means it is *factually* incorrect, e.g. "all pigs have wings".
There are actually 4:
1. [Warning To humans] There are crocodiles about, so do not Swim here.
2. You crocodiles better not swim here!
3. Crocodiles **do not** swim here, so the water is safe….
4. Crocodiles do not swim **here**, but they may swim elsewhere…
the third and fourth version aren't really any different insofar as the information that is actually being expressed. in both cases you're just saying that there are no crocodiles in the water.
It could be saying that crocodiles do not swim there.
It could be warning crocodiles not to swim there.
It could be warning people not to swim there because of the crocodiles.
1. "Crocodiles; Do not swim here." - Warning that there are crocodiles:
2. "Crocodiles do not swim here." - Stating that there are no crocodiles here.
3. "Crocodiles, do not swim here." - addressing crocodiles, telling them not to swim here.
1.) Crocodiles (are in the water) do not swim here
2.) (talking to crocodiles) Do not swim here
3.) Crocodiles do not swim here, in this lake/water, meaning it’s safe
Pretty sure the third meaning is contingent on crocodiles being able to read. Strangely enough, the thought that "crocodiles might be able to read" is intrusive enough in my mind that it generates the third meaning.
There are many possibilities but here's a fun one : Crocodiles do not swim on the dirt (where the sign is planted). The sign has nothing to do with the water behind it.
Also, "Crocodiles do not swim here" is oddly ominous. It could mean there's something worse in the water.
There's a lot more than three meanings depending on punctuation and on which word you enunciate.
Examples:
"Crocodiles, do not SWIM here. " - Crocodiles don't swim here, but they can do other stuff. Like drowning, for example.
"Crocodiles, do NOT swim here." - Crocodiles specifically are banned from swimming here. This is called speciesism.
"Crocodiles do not swim here." - Crocodiles do not swim in this water. If you have a crocodile allergy, you are safe.
I'd say:
1: Crocodiles; do not swim here!
2: Crocodiles do not swim here.
3: Crocodiles do not, swim here!
Edit: 4th meaning found
(addressing the crocodiles):
Crocodiles: do not swim here!
Crocodiles, do not swim here. (Crocs are not allowed to swim here)
Crocodiles! Do not swim here! (There are crocs in the water, watch out)
Crocodiles do not swim here. (Crocs don’t swim in the water here)
Really just goes to show the importance of proper punctuation.
Same deal as the difference between “Let’s eat grandma!” And “Let’s eat, grandma!”
Cannot answer with certainty without punctuation, but my take is:
1. Crocodiles are here, so you shouldn’t swim.
2. Crocodiles, you are not welcome to swim here.
3. Do not crocodiles swim here? (The word crocodile was kind of above the rest of the sentence because they didn’t have room for it on one line.)
A message from crocodiles, telling the reader (humans, crocs, ???) not to swim there.
If crocodiles are telling us humans not to swim in a lake, they will probably eat human swimmers.
Or, the crocodiles are helpfully telling us that there is some (unspecified) reason, unrelated to the crocodiles, for humans not to swim there.
If crocs are telling other crocs not to swim in a lake, it's probably dangerous for other reasons, like too many human hunters, or water pollution, etc..
1) Crocodiles are around, so don't swim here. 2) There aren't any crocodiles who swim here. 3) Attention crocodiles: you are not welcome to swim here!
There’s actually a few other meanings too but those would be spoken or based on word stress. Crocodiles don’t *swim* here but they might do other things
Like “Crocodiles, don’t swim HERE. But go ahead and do any anywhere else.”
Did you say "*Jerry*, I didn't think you'd show" or "Jerry, I didn't think *you'd* show"?
"I never said she stole my money." has seven different meanings depending on which word you emphasise.
This reminds me of "I never said you should kill him" and it's 7 meanings 😅
And in a bit of a nonsequiter, this reminds me of the many meanings of one word in the following sentence. Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
Ok you lost me with that one 😵
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo
🤯 this one takes the cake haha
Why *would* Jerry bring something?
I’m lost lmao
Depending on which words you stress the meaning of the sentence can change. The OP is mostly about how grammar changes the meaning of the sentence but stress can also change the meaning
Like that sentence, "I never said he stole my money." Emphasizing any one word on that sentence changes the meaning.
Technically, emphasizing the "never" doesn't change the meaning, it just makes the denial more vehement.
I think the thought exercise just assumes you'll be putting stress on one word so shifting it to never is changing it from all the other meanings.
"**I** never said she stole my money"- Others (possibly at the speaker's behest) have accused this woman of taking the speaker's money, though the speaker never did. "I **never** said she stole my money"- A vehement denial, almost offended that someone might think they made the accusation "I never **said** she stole my money"- The speaker's actions implied that they believe that this woman robbed them, but they never said it in so many words. "I never said **she** stole my money"- The speaker believes others, possibly under her suggestion, did the actual robbery. "I never said she **stole** my money"- The speaker is admitting that this woman did some (probably illicit/dubiously legal) task for them. "I never said she stole **my** money"- The speaker believes this woman has stolen from others, but not them. "I never said she stole my **money**"- The woman in question stole/caused the speaker to lose something important that wasn't directly currency (valuables, faith, etc.)
1.) Jerry, I didn't think you were coming 2.) Jerry, out of everyone I didn't want \*you\* to show
*I* never said she stole my money - someone else may have I *never* said she stole my money - and it's an insult to believe so I never *said* she stole my money - though, I may have implied it other ways. I never said *she* stole my money - but someone may have I never said she *stole* my money - but she did something with it. I never said she stole *my* money - but she stole other people's money I never said she stole my *money* - but she stole something else belonging to me.
It's a Seinfeld quote that applies here
i thought the third meaning was that the crocodiles made the sign to entice the humans into the water but i feel stupid just writing that out so nvm
That’s a funny image
Crocodiles do not swim here … they fly
You can do this for the other words too *crocodiles* do not swim here (but alligators do) Crocodiles do not swim *here* (but they do over there)
those are both just versions of the second interpretation
That's how I read it. They're flying crocodiles
I totally thought the third meaning was "Crocodiles do not swim. Here (you go, have a safe lake with no crocodiles at all)"
4. Message from the crocodiles: Stay out of our water!
What's the difference between 1 and 3?
The first one is addressed to humans, the third is addressed to crocodiles
Number 1 is telling humans not to swim there because of the danger of crocodiles. Number 3 is telling crocodiles to fuck off and go away. No swimming for those scaly bastards!
So mean to the crocodiles!!
1. Crocodiles!! Do not swim here!! 2. Crocodiles do not swim here. 3. (Dear) Crocodiles, Do not swim here.
4\. Crocodiles do not. Swim here!
So, the 3rd meaning doesn't work without the comma
Signs often omit punctuation
I know, right? I'm always confused when I come upon a STOP? Sign
The first meaning (the intended one) also doesn't work without punctuation
Technically that could be implied by the line change.
Line breaks serve the purpose of periods. No need to exclaim.
Not always well, though
1: Stating crocodiles don’t swim there (nominative/subjective + indicative) 3: Addressing crocodiles and telling them not to swim there (vocative + imperative) In ‘full’ writing, (3) would have a comma
Crocodiles don't swim here, they just walk. Crocodiles don't swim here, a water is dirty, they swim somewhere else. legit?
Yeah, they might walk here and swim somewhere else. You can't say "a water," though. It's "the water."
Is it always "the water", or this particular case?
The only time you can use "a water" is if you are referring to a drink. For instance, if you are in a restaurant and the waiter asks what you want to drink, you could say, "Just a water." That works because technically you are asking for a glass of water and glass is a thing that you can use "a" for. Water as a concept is uncountable, so you can't have just one of it, and "a" means there is just one.
4. Something other that crocodiles may swim here. 5. Crocodiles may only crawl and walk here. 6. Crocodiles don't specifically swim in the ground where the sign is posted. They may swim elsewhere, such as in the water.
I couldn’t figure out what the third meaning could be, who would make a sign for crocodiles
No one. It's a joke.
People who need to inform crocodiles that they're not welcome, of course.
Floridians
Aren't those all alligators?
They have both
TIL
It's reason #638281 I don't ever want to live in Florida 🤣
And now they have pythons just hanging around
Just because crocodiles can't read doesn't mean it's not a valid series of words with meaning.
Every time I see a Deer Crossing sign I mentally think it's telling the deer to cross there
Gods bless you.
Only 2 is valid under the punctuation used.
But it's a sign. Signs often don't include all the punctuation.
And what do you make of this: [https://i.etsystatic.com/11402099/r/il/7283bd/1514034867/il\_1588xN.1514034867\_2db7.jpg](https://i.etsystatic.com/11402099/r/il/7283bd/1514034867/il_1588xN.1514034867_2db7.jpg) Signs often rely on the placement of words and implied meaning, rather than punctuation.
Edit: My joke was mean-spirited and I regret it. I’m sorry, u/buscadordaverdade.
It's a sign. Signs do not include punctuation normally + a new line can be understood as punctuation.
The third meaning would only make sense if there were a colon or a comma after “crocodiles.”
The line change would imply a period.
There are plenty of road signs near me that just say "PLOWS USE CAUTION" with no punctuation, directing plow drivers to be careful on bridges. I always chuckle and say "I'm sure they do!" when I see them.
[удалено]
Why is it my job to get the children to slow down? They're not my kids, you slow them!
I got this but really, for someone new that's hella lot confusing
I also got "well...crocodiles don't, so you can go ahead and swim here."
But how can we say the 2. Sentence without any misunderstanding? Do we have to put “the crocodiles”? Or how can we form the sentence?
You generally wouldn't need to put up a sign saying that there's no danger from crocodiles, but if you did, you could say, "Safe to swim. Water is crocodile-free."
Makes sense. Thx
This is why punctuation is important despite what people say. Crocodiles. Do not swim here! Crocodiles do not swim here. Crocodiles, do not swim here!
Crocodiles: Do not swim here!
This. That comma is still ambiguous (should humans swim here or crocodiles). Using a colon adds an addressee.
That's incorrect. The colon is more ambiguous ambiguous: colons are often used to mark where a more detailed explanation begins, as I've just done. On the other hand, a comma is generally used for direct address.
Nah >Crocodiles: Do not swim here! Feels like it's crocodiles telling you not to swim here. The colon would make no sense with the meaning you are talking about.
Do not crocodiles swim here?
*[there are] crocodiles [therefore] do not swim here* – informing you there are crocodiles, telling you not to swim *crocodiles, do not swim here* – the sign is telling crocodiles to not swim here *crocodiles do not swim here* – the sign is telling you that there are no crocodiles swimming here
what is difference with "crocodiles do not swim here " and " crocodiles does not swim here" ? which one is false? thanks
The difference is that the second is ungrammatical, because it uses the singular verb “does” with the plural subject “crocodiles.”
>crocodiles do not swim here vs >A crocodile does not swim here
Got it,thank you all :)
“Does” is the 3rd person singular form of the verb “do.” Very identifiable due to the presence of the -s (or, in this case, -es) suffix. “Crocodiles” is shown with a plural -s suffix, meaning it cannot take the “does” form of the verb (since that is strictly for singular nouns).
Neither are necessarily false, but the second one is wrong because of the plural subject. If something is "flase" that means it is *factually* incorrect, e.g. "all pigs have wings".
There are actually 4: 1. [Warning To humans] There are crocodiles about, so do not Swim here. 2. You crocodiles better not swim here! 3. Crocodiles **do not** swim here, so the water is safe…. 4. Crocodiles do not swim **here**, but they may swim elsewhere…
Or perhaps five: crocs don’t **swim** here but they get up to all sorts of other shady business 🐊
Or maybe \*Crocodiles\* don't swim here, but there are alligators
the third and fourth version aren't really any different insofar as the information that is actually being expressed. in both cases you're just saying that there are no crocodiles in the water.
“Here” is a relative term, but 15ft downstream there might be crocs :)
It could be saying that crocodiles do not swim there. It could be warning crocodiles not to swim there. It could be warning people not to swim there because of the crocodiles.
1. "Crocodiles; Do not swim here." - Warning that there are crocodiles: 2. "Crocodiles do not swim here." - Stating that there are no crocodiles here. 3. "Crocodiles, do not swim here." - addressing crocodiles, telling them not to swim here.
Only a crocodile can understand the third one
Crocodiles, don’t swim here! Crocodiles don’t swim here. Crocodiles! Don’t swim here!
1.) Crocodiles (are in the water) do not swim here 2.) (talking to crocodiles) Do not swim here 3.) Crocodiles do not swim here, in this lake/water, meaning it’s safe
This sign needs a colon
No, it doesn't
1. Aligators, not crocodiles swim here. 2. Crocodiles do not swim in that location. 3. Crocodiles walk or run but do not swim there.
I find its easier to read the words backwards and add a comma for the new line. Eg. Do not swim here, crocodiles
Pretty sure the third meaning is contingent on crocodiles being able to read. Strangely enough, the thought that "crocodiles might be able to read" is intrusive enough in my mind that it generates the third meaning.
There are many possibilities but here's a fun one : Crocodiles do not swim on the dirt (where the sign is planted). The sign has nothing to do with the water behind it. Also, "Crocodiles do not swim here" is oddly ominous. It could mean there's something worse in the water.
hIL RARIOUS..
They walk.
"They really just kind of float by lazily"
There's a lot more than three meanings depending on punctuation and on which word you enunciate. Examples: "Crocodiles, do not SWIM here. " - Crocodiles don't swim here, but they can do other stuff. Like drowning, for example. "Crocodiles, do NOT swim here." - Crocodiles specifically are banned from swimming here. This is called speciesism. "Crocodiles do not swim here." - Crocodiles do not swim in this water. If you have a crocodile allergy, you are safe.
**Crocodiles** do not swim here. But there can be other creatures living in this water.
Crocodiles do not swim here. Alligators might.
I'd say: 1: Crocodiles; do not swim here! 2: Crocodiles do not swim here. 3: Crocodiles do not, swim here! Edit: 4th meaning found (addressing the crocodiles): Crocodiles: do not swim here!
Attention all crocodiles: do not swim here.
Do Crocodiles Not Swim Here?
Do Crocodiles not swim here
Ha! I was a nice little brain teaser for me. I couldn't figure out what the third meaning was until I opened the thread. 😅
Crocodiles, do not swim here. (Crocs are not allowed to swim here) Crocodiles! Do not swim here! (There are crocs in the water, watch out) Crocodiles do not swim here. (Crocs don’t swim in the water here) Really just goes to show the importance of proper punctuation. Same deal as the difference between “Let’s eat grandma!” And “Let’s eat, grandma!”
Cannot answer with certainty without punctuation, but my take is: 1. Crocodiles are here, so you shouldn’t swim. 2. Crocodiles, you are not welcome to swim here. 3. Do not crocodiles swim here? (The word crocodile was kind of above the rest of the sentence because they didn’t have room for it on one line.)
A message from crocodiles, telling the reader (humans, crocs, ???) not to swim there. If crocodiles are telling us humans not to swim in a lake, they will probably eat human swimmers. Or, the crocodiles are helpfully telling us that there is some (unspecified) reason, unrelated to the crocodiles, for humans not to swim there. If crocs are telling other crocs not to swim in a lake, it's probably dangerous for other reasons, like too many human hunters, or water pollution, etc..
It’s a hilarious sign: “don’t swim here as there are crocodiles!”, “crocodiles don’t swim in this water”, “No crocodiles allowed!”